Counterbalanced window sash



Patented Mar. 17, 1942 COUNTERBALANCED WINDOW SASH Fridolin Schimmel,Faribault, Minn., assigner to Herbert E. Schimmel, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application January 31, 1940, Serial No. 316,541

2 Claims.

This invention relates to window structures of the type employing upperand lower vertically slidable sash, and provides simple and efficientmeans whereby the customary window weights and weight-boxes areeliminated and made unnecessary. Generally stated, the inventionconsists of the novel devices, combinations of devices and arrangementof parts hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accomplishment of objects of my invention I provide a flexible orbelt-like connection between the upper Iand lower sash whereby theweight of the one sash is counter-balanced or counter-weighted againstthe other. The flexible connection herein broadly designated as a beltmay take Various forms, but preferably will be in the form of a chain,one end of which is connected to the lower and the other end to theupper sash; and this chain is arranged to run over a belt guide locatedabove the highest points reached by the ends of the chain in the variousmovements of the upper and lower sash.

The belt guide is a vertically adjustable guide head or bracket equippedwith a roller over which the belt directly runs.

In counter-weighting or balancing the sash and chain a cooperating guidewill preferably be located at each side of the sash or at each side ofthe window frame. The belt guide devices in themselves include novel`features whereby they are properly adjusted for the sash; and preferablyeach sash is provided withan independent lock whereby important resultshereinafter more fully described are made possible..

A commercial embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing a window frame with the customaryupper and lower sash and illustrating a preferred embodiment of thesash-connecting means, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, someparts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.1.

The window frame, which is indicated as an entirety by the numeral 5, isprovided with the customary outside guide strip 6, vertical inside guidestrips l and vertical parting or intermediate guide strips 8. The lowerand upper sash 9 and I0 are guided for vertical movements by the saidstrips 6, 1 and 8 and may be of the usual or standard construction. Theflexible belts which, as indicated, are preferably chains .II, areattachedthe one end thereof to the ytop of the lower sash 9, and theother end thereof to the upper sash I0, preferably at a pointconsiderably below the top thereof. The attachment of the ends of thechain to the said sash may be made in any suitable way, but preferablyis made by means of linklike anchoring anchors I2 secured to therespective sash by screws, nails or the like.

In the drawing only one side of the sash is shown but the belts andguides will, as stated,

be duplicated on opposite sides of the windowv frame; The belts arearranged torun freely on flanged guide wheels I3 journalled on studs orj heavy rivets I4 to one side of a box-like bearing head which, asshown, and preferably, is made up of a channel-shaped sheet metal memberI5 and a plate-like member I6, the said membersv I5 and I6 beingconnected by the said studV or rivet I4. The anges of the channel-shapedmember I5 project beyond the plate I6 and an anchoring bolt I'I ispassed through perforations in these flanges. The upper end of bolt I1is threaded and is arranged to be screwedinto anchoring lug or bracketI8 that is rigidly secured'to the top of thewindow frame above thehighest position of the lower sash, by suitab means such as a wood screwI9. A

For locking the bolt I1 in' the properly set positions to properlyadjust the chains, asrshown in Fig. 3, a screw I9 is threaded throughthe hub of the bracket I8 and is engageable against the threaded end ofsaid bolt l1. The bracket I8 is.

also preferably further provided with a lug I8'` that enters a notch cutin the window frame, as best shown in Fig. 3, and assists the screw I9in locking the bracket I8 against lateral shifting both of the sashlocks.

To cover and guard portions of the chains at the inner side of thewindowy a protecting shield or strip 23, which is preferably of sheetmetal and Z-shaped in cross section, is shown as applied to the sides ofthe window frame by means of screws 24 or the like 'Ihe operation anduse of the device described is substantially as follows.

The two window sash will so nearly counterbalance each other that theone will offset the weight of the other and when the lock devices` ofthe two sash are released. the two frames may be moved at will. Ofcourse, when the one sash is moved upward, the other sash will movedownward. Any slight difference in the counterbalance of the two sashwill not be suflicient to overcome the slight friction in the connectingand supporting devices, to produce any accidental or undesirablemovement of the sash. When, foi example, the lower sash is lockedagainst vertical movements in its lowermost position, the upper sashwill be held in its upper position and then, of course, cannot be movedeither upward or downward. If the lower sash be locked in a slightlyraised position, the upper sash cannot bc moved downward but can belifted slightly by giving slack to the chains. When adjusted as shown inFig. l, there will be ventilation both at the bottom and top of thewindow.

If the lower sash be locked in either its eX- treme upper position or inan intermediate position, the upper sash cannot be moved downward butcan be lifted by giving slack to the chains. When the lower sash ismoved to an extreme lower position, the upper sash will be automaticallymoved to its uppermost position; and if the lower sash be thus locked inits upper position, the lowered upper sash can be raised by` givingslack to the chain; but if the upper sash then be locked in itslowermost position, the raised lower sash cannot, of course, be lowered.If the window be entirely closed by movement of the lower sash to itslowermost position, and the upper sash. to its uppermost position, adouble locking may be produced by setting the locks of both sash.

From the foregoing it is probably evident that the application of thelocking of the lower sash is most important because when the window isclosed and the lock of the lower sash is applied,

it is not possible to move the upper sash either upward or downward;whereas, if the lock Aof the upper sash be operated when the window isclosed, it will be still possible to raise the lower sash by givingslack to the chains. It is important, of course, to note that both ofthe locks are operable from the inner side of the window.

In this improved device the pulley is journaled in and movable with thecasing; the casing is supported for vertical adjustments solely by ascrew or screw bolt; the screw bolt is provided with a head that affordsa stop for the downward movement of the casing; and the casing is capa-Vble of oscillatory movements on said screw bolt.

The casing with its pulley is not only capable of lateral oscillationson the screw bolt but can be turned either side in for application, atwill, to either side of the window so that two identical devices willsufce to support two sides of a sash. In this simple device a casing forthe pulley is provided and the single screw bolt serves as a means forsupporting and simultaneously adjusting the casing with its pulley. Withthis device it is evident that the casing is mounted to oscillate on thesupporting screw rod and when the device is removed or before it hasbeen applied to the window casing, it is capable of complete rotation onthe rod or rotation through at least so that the device can be usedeither in right or left, that is, can be applied to either side of awindow frame.

A preferred form of the invention has now been described, but it will beunderstood that the invention is capable of modification as to detail ofconstruction and arrangement of parts all within the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A belt supporting and guiding device of the kind described involvinga casing having at least one laterally projecting flange, a pulleyjournaled in said casing, a fixed support above said casing, and a screwrod passed through said ange and having a threaded upper end adjustablyengaging said fixed support, said screw rod having a head engaging saidange and directly supporting said casing with freedom for oscillatorymovements around said rod. said rod affording the sole means forvertically adjusting said casing and the pulley'journaled in the latter,said casing, when said device is removed from working position, beingcapable of at least 180 rotation on said rod, whereby, said device ismade applicable to either side of a window casing.

2. A belt supporting and guiding device ofthe kind described involving acasing having upper and lower laterally projecting flanges and asupplemental side plate, said flanges projecting beyond said side plate,a belt guiding wheel journaled to the fixed and supplemental sideportions of said casing, a relatively fixed support above said casing,and an anchoring screw bolt passed upward through both of said flangesjust outward of said supplemental side plate, said screw bolt having atits lower end, a head upon which the lower of said flanges directlyrests, the upper end of said screw bolt being threaded for engagementwith said relatively xed support, said rod affording the sole means forvertica lly adjusting said casing and the pulley journaled in thelatter, said casing, when said device is removed from working position,being capable of at least 180 rotation on said rod, whereby, said deviceis made applicable to either side of a window casing.

FRIDOLIN SCHIMMEL.

